Does the Super make it that much better? We find out comparing the 4080 Super vs 4090
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As the Ada series gets an upgrade the gap between them falls, so how does the RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 compare? As the flagship pushed the performance and even the price of things, the 80 model might just dial it back a bit more to make it the right alternative.
What is the best GPU around with nothing holding close in the consumer world, the RTX 4090 came out as the head of its generation of cards in September of 2022. But now the series has been expanding and with the Super updates, it provides an alternative. As the RTX 4080 Super release comes and provides an update to the range with its improved specs, how much does the best RTX 4080 Super change?
(see our Where to Buy RTX 4080 Super page for more!)
Excellent air cooling solution
Pushes performance above the rest of the selection
Updated design cooling and aesthetically focused
A more expensive choice over the rest of the picks and will cost a lot to run
Great build quality and design
Additional HDMI connector gives choice of connectivity
Excellent cooling capabilities
Large dimensions to try and fit in
Utilizes 16-pin power connector
| RTX 4080 Super | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | AD103-400 | AD102-300 |
| CUDA cores | 10,240 | 16,384 |
| Base clock speed | 2,295MHz | 2,230MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 2,550MHz | 2,520MHz |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6X | 24GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bandwidth | 736GB/s | 1,008GB/s |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 384-bit |
| Memory clock | 23Gbps | 21Gbps |
| TGP | 320W | 450W |
Looking to the 4090 vs 4080 Super specs we can see what the differences are between them on the base level. Starting off with the processor, the 80 Super uses a lower tier option with the AD103 processor instead, with a smaller die size it has a lower CUDA count. In fact, it’s over 6,000 fewer than what the 90 has to offer. They also come similarly clocked, although the Super is slightly overclocked in its boost speed.
As for the memory, this is also where the 4090 wins out as it packs 8GB more GDDR6X memory. Not only does it get a higher capacity, it also has a faster bandwidth. Even though the Super card is cooked higher it has a lower bus and overall bandwidth.
But all the high specs of the 4090 come out at a penalty. With its higher requirements, it also needs a lot of power to run all of it. With a 130W higher TGP, it not only costs more but also will require more to run overall which might not be as cost-effective.
With the 4080 Super not yet released, we don’t exactly know how well it will perform against the RTX 4090. However, Nvidia’s own benchmarks and release news show us a glimpse of what to expect from the newer option. There it compares the 4080 Super vs 3080 Ti and shows the performance increases between those.
However, we don’t expect the 4080 Super to reach the levels of the 4090. With the specs so far behind and not many improvements it does mean it is unlikely to get on par with the 4090 in terms of performance. But it might provide a better value option for your money.
*Update* – there has been some more leaked information which may shed further light on the performance of the new card. Have a read of the following pieces to get the scoop: early Blender scores shows that the RTX 4080 Super is barely an improvement and these leaked RTX 4080 Super benchmarks could ruin launch day for you.
Considering these two graphics cards are at the top of the list in Nvidia’s GPU lineup, they both do come at quite a cost in general. But there is still a steep difference between them, as the 4080 Super does at least drop below what the original option was released at. But comparing the 4080 Super vs 4090, the Super is $600 cheaper than the 90. They had a launch price of $999 and $1,599 respectively.
The main differences between the 4080 Super vs 4090 are the price and specs. The 4090 boasts a much higher CUDA count, along with a larger memory capacity and bandwidth. But the Super does come in with a much lower power rating does means it gets a lower performance.
Updated cooling to adapt to the higher power rating
Comes with a GPU support to help with the heavier build and prevent bending
Strong design with a light feature
A bit more of a dated design
Slim form factor
Incredible design and quality
Utilizes 16-pin power connector
Replaces one DisplayPort with a HDMI connector for two of each
The RTX 4080 Super might just be worth it over the 4090. The card is still expected to be capable of reaching a great framerate of over 100 even at 4K if Nvidia’s data is anything to go by. Plus with the price much lower, it does bring a much better value, especially as current Amazon listings for the 4090 are even steeper and less of a good choice to go for. It makes the 4080 Super a lot more appealing than the 90 model as it can achieve more than enough if you don’t need the extra VRAM.
If you’re interested in the 4080 Super and have more questions, we have the answers. You can see how it compares vs 4070 Ti Super, vs 3090 Ti & 3090 GPUs, and RTX 4080 Super vs 4090, then you might consider where to buy the 4080 Super if you decide you do want one. Just make sure you have the best PC case for RTX 4080 Super to fit it in, or just get the best RTX 4080 Super gaming PC!
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